The Chimes
News of Acton Congregational Church
In this Issue
Minister’s Message
When You Pray
ACC Calendar of Events
Featured Articles
Celebrating Volunteers
Prayer of the Month
Successful Fund Raiser
Children & Youth
Forming the Faith
Nursery Caregiver
Sunday School Registration
Youth Update
Committees/Ministries
Board of Deacons
Board of Trustees
Cornerstone Thrift Shop
Events
Men's Breakfast
Walk ‘n’ Wonder
Staff
Alpha Omega Gallery
Church Picture Directory
Deadline for the Chimes
Devotionals
Facilities Specialist
Staff Opening
Worship
Missionaries Lead Worship
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May 2016
Minister's Message
Dear friends, if you attended Acton's recent Town Meeting as a
matter of practice, or in support of our CPC grant proposal (or
both), you would have noticed similarities to our Annual Meeting.
Both the town and the church have a moderator. Both follow
Robert's Rules of Order. Each has two prominent governing
boards: Selectmen/Deacons and Fincom/Trustees. Everyone in
attendance has an opportunity to speak and vote; and meetings
can be long and tedious. I'm certain there have been times when
people leaving Town Meeting and our Annual Meeting have wondered aloud if
there is some better way!
Of course, these similarities are not accidental. When our church was
incorporated in 1735, Acton came into being as a result of the political and
spiritual practices of the Puritans. Town meeting and the Annual Meeting were
one and the same. The democratic practices and "checks and balances" were
not only about giving voice to voters, but to assure the Holy Spirit speaks
through any persons in attendance--Puritan government was essentially
Pentecostal in practice. The American Revolution and the Constitution of 1789
disentangled the church and government with The Establishment Clause:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" and, The
Free Exercise Clause "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." That said, this does not mean
(contrary to popular belief and one "nay" vote for our CPC funding) the
"separation of church and state." It's not in the U.S. Constitution.
I'm grateful to Dave Clough, Trudy Khosla, and Ken Sghia-Hughes for their
efforts to prepare the grant and to all of you who offered your support. I'm thrilled
that our grant passed at Town Meeting. There is a strong sentiment that our
church buildings' maintenance is in the best interest of Acton to preserve its
history. Still, it ought not to be lost on us that the process to approve our CPC
grant and Town Meeting itself is our most profound contribution to Acton,
Massachusetts, and our country.
--Grace and Peace, Rev. Andy
To submit articles, Please send to:
[email protected]
________________________________
June Deadline:
Tues. May17, 12 PM
Mid Summer Deadline:
Tues. July 12, 12 PM
The Upper Room Devotional for May-June 2016
Avail yourself of this free devotional, a gift from our deacons, as
a way to start or end your day in prayer and reflection. This
issue's cover depicts the conversion of Paul by artist Jason
Jenicke. A pocket version or large print version can be found on
the Opportunity Table and at the Welcome Center. This
interdenominational devotional is published bimonthly in 33
different languages. Take, and be well served.
--Blessings, Rev. Barbara
News from the Cornerstone Thrift Shop
The Cornerstone Thrift Shop has been in operation since 2003,
thriving on the donations of church members and the
community. It would not have been able to meet our goal of
helping to fund numerous missions and programs over the years
without a steady supply of high-quality donations. We are
grateful to donors who have checked our guidelines and carefully screened the items
they donate.
With the advent of more stringent regulations at the Acton Transfer Station making
disposal more challenging, it may be tempting to donate anything you no longer need
or want, regardless of condition. Sometimes people drop off items from cleaned out
attics and basements without examining them. Remember that our customers will buy
only items in pristine condition that are truly useful. When donations are dirty, worn out,
torn, or broken, the volunteers are left to try to dispose of those items. It can be quite
taxing on volunteer hours and the small space of the shop. So, please assess the quality of items that you choose
to donate. You can see our donation guidelines on the Cornerstone's page of the church's website, or stop by
when the shop is open to talk to a volunteer.
Please come visit us and see our Spring and Summer Collection. Our hours of operation are:
Monday, 10 AM - 2 PM
Wednesday, 3-5:30 PM
Friday, 10 AM - 2 PM
Saturday, 10 AM - noon
Celebrate Our Church Volunteers
On the front of the worship bulletin each week is our Mission Statement. The second line reads "The church
encourages each individual to accept the gift of Christ and to respond to God's love by taking part in worship,
ministry to one another, and the Christian nurture of people of all ages." Each and every person who volunteers
his or her time, talents, and energy to the ministries of Acton Congregational Church is fulfilling this mission. You
are the life-blood of our church. Without the faithful service of so many, our church would not exist. From those
who teach, to those who mentor our youth, to those who sing in choirs, arrange flowers, crunch numbers; or serve
communion, every facet of ministry that you do is important.
On Sunday, June 12, at the 9:15 AM single service, we will celebrate the close of our program year and recognize
each and every volunteer, not just those who serve in Sunday school or our youth ministry. Join us after the
worship service for an all-church brunch that will include pancakes, a yogurt sundae bar and mini quiches. Look
for sign-up information during the month of May.
--Merrill Noble, Director of Children and Faith Formation Ministries
Men's Breakfast, May 21
Last August, Debbie Clough traveled with her mother and 17 others on a group tour of Africa and
Tanzania. On Saturday, May 21, Debbie will join us to share her adventures in Africa and Tanzania.
Come see photos of the amazing African wildlife, landscapes, and people.
Come hear about the priceless moments and experiences of visiting both countries.
Coffee at 7:30 AM, breakfast at 8, Debbie begins at 8:20, and we try to leave by 9 AM. $5 suggested donation to
cover the cost of food. RSVP to Jeff Brown, [email protected].
Nursery Caregiver Job Opening
Irina Dey has announced that she will be leaving her position at the end of this program year beause she is
planning to move closer to her job in Cambridge. She will be sorely missed.
We are seeking an experienced childcare provider who can train with Irina this spring and assume the caregiver
responsibilities in early September. The caregiver will be paid to oversee the nursery for a total of 35 Sundays
from September through June. The ideal candidate should be at least 21 years old, live in the local area, and
have personal transportation. The candidate should be CPR and First Aid certified, and eligible for CORI
approval. We require at minimum 3-5 years experience working with children and knowledge of child
development. A willingness to teach age-appropriate Bible story lessons and to be playful and creative is a must.
Above all we seek someone who has a warm and welcoming disposition and who is dependable, reliable, and
trustworthy.
This job is ideal for a young adult who is currently working toward a degree in early childhood education. If you or
someone you know would be interested in this position, please contact Merrill Noble at 978-263-2728 or
[email protected].
An Invitation to Walk 'n' Wonder
"Holy One, be among us - day and night, hill and valley, sure-path and stumbling...Guide us that we may
venture forth with courage." Maren Tirabassi, An Improbable Gift of Blessing
Morning walkers are now taking to the Arboretum to witness the gifts of spring: lush green moss, avocado duck
weed and the fragile wildflower shoots emerging from the dark earth. Come join us for these explorations of God's
creation, fellowship on the trails and stretches of silence allowing for prayer for those in need. Thursday mornings
we meet in the church parking lot unless otherwise noted in the Sunday bulletin. We will be branching out to other
conservation lands throughout the summer. Call Rev. Barbara (978-979-0704) with any questions. This is a great
way to start your day - in holy communion with the gifts of creation.
Alpha Omega Photo Gallery
For twelve days in March I meandered the high roads of Monteverde and the low roads of the southeast
Caribbean coast of Costa Rica during a delicious vacation. A dear friend owns an inn in rain forest country, and
his friend a restaurant on the beach near the Panama border. I was well taken care of and entertained by them in
these very different environments, each with its unique and incredible sights and sounds, flora and fauna, and
many surprises in this richly bio-diverse country. From howler monkeys and Jesus Christ lizards (so named as
they walk on water) to torrential downpours and daily ration of fresh coconut water from the shell, I was immersed
in new experiences. From my 1,200 photographs amassed on a half-inch chip, I have printed nine of my favorites,
which will hang in the gallery outside my office in May and June. May they lure you to consider travel to this
amazing country or remind you of similar haunts. I will return often in my memory and again next year, I hope and
God willing.
With thanks for the opportunity of time away to receive the gifts of this adventure. May you travel to the realms of
your heart's desire.
--All blessings, Rev. Barbara
Forming the Faith of our Children
When a baby or young child is baptized at Acton Congregational Church the congregation makes promises to join
with parents and guardians to form the faith of all children baptized among us. Our Sunday school program is
designed to provide a variety of ways in which to fulfill this promise. Our team approach to Sunday school caters
to everyone's busy schedule, but still maintains a level of consistency for the children. The need for a larger pool
of leaders and teachers on Sunday mornings is nearing the critical point in order to avoid burnout in the current
volunteer staff, and to allow me the opportunity to better balance my time given my expanded responsibilities with
Welcoming Membership. Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to participate in any of the capacities
listed below during the 2016-17 school year.
Superintendent:
Sunday morning Superintendents are the essential eyes, ears, and helping hands that make everything run
smoothly each week. They provide cheerful assistance to new families and Sunday school volunteers.
Superintendents manage the administrative details of attendance and the Sunday School offering, as well as
prepare the donuts and juice for Fellowship Hour.
Preschool/Kindergarten Class Teacher:
A team of three adults share the responsibility of teaching on a rotating basis. Curriculum materials are easy to
follow and materials are gathered for you. Who can resist the wonder and joy of a little child eagerly listening to
favorite bible stories?
Adult Shepherd:
A team of one to two individuals who will work with the Director of Children's Ministry to plan the One Room
Sunday School lessons for grades 1-6, and take a leadership role to teach those lessons on Communion
Sundays and other Sundays as directed.
Workshop Leader:
Workshop Leaders teach the same lesson to a different age group, grades 1-6 each week for two to four
consecutive weeks. Members of the congregation can participate in Sunday School by teaching the type of
activity they love and with which they feel comfortable. Workshop Leaders can make short or long term
commitments depending on their personal schedules.
Junior High Teacher:
Teams of two or three individuals share the responsibility of teaching on a rotating basis. Using the same
Cornerstones curriculum themes as grades 1-6, the team works with Rev. Holgie to create lessons that will
increase fellowship among the students and deepen their faith through sharing and questioning.
Teen Shepherd:
Teens who are in grade 9 or older serve in the nursery, preschool/kindergarten room and act as assistants for the
adult workshop leaders. Each student has the opportunity to continue learning about our faith and to develop
leadership skills. A commitment of six Sundays during the program year is required.
For more information about volunteering in Sunday School, please call Merrill Noble. Applications will be available
on the church website and throughout the church building beginning Sunday, May 15.
--Merrill Noble, Director of Children and Faith Formation Ministries
New Church Photo Directories Have Arrived – Thank You Lisa Scott
Thanks to the hard work of Lisa Scott, we now have a new photo directory for the entire
congregation. This directory is an invaluable tool and resource for us as we continue to be a
welcoming community, helping us tie names to so many familiar faces.
A complimentary copy of the new church photo directory is available for any individual or family
who had a photo taken for it. You may pick up your labeled copy in the Glynda Smith Reception
Center.
If you did not but would like to have a copy, you may purchase one by contacting the church
office at 978-263-2728 or [email protected].
La Romana Worship Service May 1
Worship on Sunday, May 1 will be led by members of this year's La Romana Mission Team.
The mission provided medical clinics in the remote bateyes (villages for sugar cane harvesters) and assisted
construction crews at the Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, built for the Haitian cane harvesters. We also
installed home water filtration units in the remote bateyes to provide potable water.
We are hoping that the service will inspire you to consider volunteering to travel to the Dominican Republic next
February as a member of the 2017 Mission Team. The 2016 Mission Team had 35 volunteers. Eighteen of them
were part of parent/child combinations, and there were four husband/wife combinations. One 16-year-old teen
came with friends, but not a parent. It was a positive and unforgettable week. The mission provides a great
opportunity for parents with teenaged children to share this profound experience.
Testimonies from some of this year's volunteers will be read during the service. You will be able to learn more
from the missionaries and view a slide show about this year's trip between the services.
--Allen Warner for the La Romana Mission Team
Youth Ministry Update
On Sunday April 10, Hartman Hall was filled with people from all generations who enjoyed heartwarming fellowship over waffles, bacon, and coffee. Our SHYF youth held their first ever Sunday
brunch after the first service. All food and supplies were donated by our wonderful SHYF families. The
main dishes were prepared by our enthusiastic youth. On that morning we received over $1,100 in
donations which will support our summer mission trip to the Adirondack Mountains in New York.
Thank you all for your enthusiastic support.
Please keep in mind that in the month of May, we have some big events lined up for our youth:
May 2: Confirmation Banquet for our nine students in the program this year
May 15: Confirmation ceremony at the second service
May 22: Youth Sunday, Senior High Recognition, and SHYF car wash.
--Blessings in Christ, Rev. Holgie
Sunday School Registration for 2016-17
Online registration for Sunday School in 2016-17 is now available through the
Faith Formation website http://actoncongregationfaithformation.weebly.com/.
Families who plan to have their preschool through grade 8 child participate in
the Sunday morning program next year are asked to pre-register their child
before the summer vacation begins. Regardless of how often your child
attends, we must have an updated, completed, registration form on file.
The online form will register one child at a time. Paper copies of the registration
form are also available; one form will register up to three children. In registering
your child for Sunday School, it is hoped that all parents would have an eager
willingness to volunteer in some capacity during the course of the program year. Please indicate your area(s) of
interest in the Parent Partners in Ministry section of the form.
Please make every effort to register your child(ren) by Monday, June 27, regardless of which method you choose.
Children should be three-years-old as of September 1, 2016 to participate in the preschool classroom. If you are a
parent with children age three or younger, or have children who plan to stay in the nursery next year, please
complete a nursery registration form online or obtain a hard copy from our caregiver, Irina Dey.
--Merrill Noble, Director of Children and Faith Formation Ministries
Prayer of the Month
After meandering through a long and quirky winter, spring is on our doorstep and at our feet. Our
senses can revel in the emerging greens, the bird symphonies, and the fresh fragrances. Spring
offers varied delights, so much evidence of a benevolent Creator.
Herewith, I offer you two prayerful invocations from Richard Skinner's compilation, Invocations Calling on the God in All, inspired by the seven Advent Antiphons, liturgical chants attributed to
Pope Gregory the Great that we sing in the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Those address
Christ as Wisdom from on high, Adonai, shoot of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring and Desire of
Nations - all references to the Hebrew Scriptures. In these new invocations Skinner was "inspired by creatures
and conditions in the world around us which reflect and are a metaphor for aspects of God or the Divine - and
point to the God in all things." The first section of each pays tribute to the creature while "the concluding petition is
addressed to that particular aspect of God for which the opening image now becomes a metaphor." "You" is the
hinge between creature and creator. Pray on...
O Dragonfly,
gauze-winged creature of the air,
gracile dart of downy emerald;
rising high above your pond-bug
incarnation
whose husk is clasping the reed:
You are the metamorphosis;
come, free us from our old constraints,
send us winging into risen life.
O Earthworm
toiling in darkness, ingesting the soil,
fashioning the bronchioles through which
the earth breathes,
signing your work with coiled humility;
You are significance beneath the surface:
come, tunnel in our darkness, bring breath,
mark us with your signature.
--Rev. Barbara
Vote Approved and Moving Forward
At Acton's town meeting on April 5, the town residents approved Article 25 - Community Preservation Fund
balances. This included Acton Congregational Church's (ACC's) two applications totaling over $100,000: one for
Stained Glass Preservation and one for a Master Plan survey for the church and two houses. Thank you to all
who attended and stayed until almost 11 PM to vote in support of this article. Town meeting is an open process
that allows the average citizen to voice opinions, but it isn't always efficient or pretty. Many thanks go out to the
CPC Application Team including Ken Sghia-Hughes and Trudy Khosla for the extensive hours and dedication to
the application process and to the Board of Trustees and Church Council for their support.
So what comes next for our two projects? The scope of the Stained Glass Preservation task includes restoration
of compromised sections of specific windows and the installation of new protective safety glass that will replace
the weathered and opaque plexiglas. Installation of the protective glass on the exterior will begin this fall. The
Master Plan survey will use specialized contractors for a building envelope assessment (exterior system review)
and thermal infra-red scan of interior structures and systems: mechanical, climate control, plumbing/piping, and
moisture control. We expect completion by this fall. This survey will serve in part as a capital needs assessment
for projects in subsequent years.
As per Acton's mandate on acquiring CPC funds, we will pay for invoices upfront and will be reimbursed up to 90
percent, equaling up to $90,000 for both projects. Funds to cover costs in the interim will come from the Trustees
Discretionary Fund. With the staggered schedule of work, the expected maximum exposure will be limited to
$50,000 at any given time.
In return for town funding, we have made a commitment to continue to preserve these properties for future
generations. We are already bound by this agreement and by being registered on the Registry of Historic
Properties in the Historic District of Acton and continue to be limited to approvals by the Historic District
Commission.
We are on our way to continuing the preservation and stewardship of our historic properties. I hope you take as
much pride in our church as many of us do, and we hope that you share that feeling by inviting others who could
benefit from all that the church has to offer.
--Dave Clough, Trustee and CPC Project Liaison
Mike Wilson, Facilities Specialist
Those of you who grew up in a church atmosphere are probably familiar with the job title of Sexton. As is true in
most churches, our Church Sexton is not only responsible for keeping the facility clean, but also for keeping it
operational. Acton Congregational Church has used the title "Church Sexton" since 1832 (perhaps a slight
exaggeration), and we thought it might be time to update the title to a more meaningful one to our outside
community. (Sexton is defined as "an official of a church charged with taking care of the edifice and its contents,
ringing the bell, etc., and sometimes with burying the dead.")
Mike Wilson has been our Sexton for almost five years, during which time our campus has been well cared for.
The knowledge Mike has gained over the past five years of our buildings, grounds, mechanical systems, etc. are
important to the proper maintenance of our properties. Mike performs his work more efficiently and effectively
thanks to his increased skills and historical knowledge, and his responsibilities have grown as a result.
I am pleased to announce Mike's new title of "Facilities Specialist" and to publicly thank him for his hard work as
part of the church's staff.
I would be remiss if I did not remind you that it takes an entire army of volunteers to keep our building clean and
operating for our many ministries and events. Your assistance is key to Mike's success in keeping our 29,000
square foot church and associated buildings and grounds in excellent shape.
--Trudy Khosla, Church Administrator
When You Pray
"In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God." - Philippians 4:6
Please put this sheet in a place where you will be reminded to pray for others, rejoicing in
God's faithfulness. We urge you to send notes and cards. Please offer prayers for:
Those Grieving the Loss of a Loved One:
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Tom and Pam Gillispie on the death of Tom’s father, Gerry on April 21.
Mike Wilson on the loss of his dear friend Jeanne St. Cyr on April 7.
Those in the hospital/rehab:
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Barbara Sipler, at Lahey Hospital, recovering from surgery.
Those recovering from surgery at home:
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Jennifer James
Linda Kavigian
Zoe Louton
Juergen Nordhausen
Debbie Owen
Gay Rose, recovering with family.
For those at home with health challenges:
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Carol Matson
Bryant Page
Howard Smillie
Jean Smith, home from rehabilitation at Life Care of Littleton.
Karen Kuranda, recovering from a sprained foot from a recent fall.
Jill Lawer, Beth and Mac Reid's friend, physically compromised with neurological challenges.
Please also keep in your prayers our youth in their varied challenges and especially our high school seniors as
they await and discern college choices. Please pray against every manifestation of terrorism; and for people of
goodwill in every nation, faith community, and governmental service who strive for peace and justice.
Thinking of You
Your Board of Deacons believes that their effort to convey support to members of the congregation is an
important part of their ministry. Deacons write letters to those who have had significant illness or surgery,
emotional challenges, or are newly homebound; to the family members or friends who support them; and to those
celebrating a church-related event such as our newest confirmands.
Our deacons hope that these notes communicate that we are thinking of you, are concerned about you, and want
to support you. Though our notes may coincide with the initial surgery, illness, or celebration, more often deacon
notes may be received several weeks later. The intent behind the notes is to convey support at both the initial
news, if possible, and in the succeeding weeks, to let you know that we continue to hold you in our prayers.
--Karen Tower for the Board of Deacons
Those Pesky Deadlines
Your newsletter staff has been struggling as more authors are missing the deadline for individual issues of The
Chimes. We thought it might help to tell you what has to happen between your submission and the release of the
newsletter.
Each issue's deadline is a Tuesday at noon. We try to pick the date as late in the month as possible for the
authors' due date, while allowing time to release the final product before the beginning of the month. (During the
office's busy seasons of Easter and Christmas, this can be tricky.)
If the authors all meet the June deadline (Tuesday, May 17) to submit articles to [email protected], the
deadlines for our Chimes staff are:
1. Church Secretary Tracy Lane moves all of your submitted articles and pictures from the email to a "smart"
spreadsheet.
2. If Tracy is done by the end of the day on Tuesday, the editor of the month (either Charlie Hartford or Judy
James) has three days to review, edit, and submit new copies of each article to the spreadsheet (typical
issues have 25 articles).
3. While the editor is working, Tracy is looking for possible picture accompaniments for articles where the
author did not submit pictures.
4. If the editor can complete his or her work by the end of the day on Friday (May 20), the Production staff
(currently Cindy Schimpf) has Saturday and Sunday to put the issue together in Constant Contact including all articles and pictures, adding links, deciding on article placement, proofing, and checking
links.
5. If Cindy is able to complete her work by Sunday evening, she sends a review copy to five staff members:
Molly Mink, Tracy Lane, Trudy Khosla, Rev. Barbara, and Rev. Andy. Molly is the primary final reviewer.
6. If Molly can finish her review on Monday (May 22) and enter any changes into the Constant Contact file,
she turns the issue over to Tracy on Tuesday morning.
7. Tracy then creates a hard copy of the issue to allow us to make paper copies so that those of you who
don't routinely read online can pick up a paper copy (or have one mailed to you). This is due on May 24.
8. Once Tracy has finished that task, she prints the final paper copies from the computer, adds the back
page and copy of the calendar, makes labels, and obtains stamps for the mailings. At the same time,
Cindy completes the Constant Contact file and schedules it for emailing.
9. On Friday morning (May 26) our weekly bulletin volunteers are kind enough to prepare copies for mailing
to about 40 people, including folding, taping, stamping, labeling. Tracy then takes these to the Post
Office.
We hope you can see the difficulties that arise when even one of you is late in submitting an article, multiplied by
several late article arrivals (sometimes as much as a week late). Tracy has worked hard to remind known authors
of upcoming deadlines; in the interest of optimizing efficiency for church staff and volunteers, we ask that you be
aware of upcoming deadlines. Visit our website for a complete list of the deadlines - and thank you!
--The Chimes staff
Successful Fund Raiser on April 23
Our thanks to the musical groups Custom Blend and Ball in the House, and to all who gave of their time and
talents to make our April 23 fund raiser a success. Two of our ministries, the Acton Food Pantry and the Lazarus
House Ministries, will receive much-needed financial support thanks to your generosity and to the generosity of
those who attended this wonderful musical event.
Custom Blend, April 23, 2016
Ball in the House, April 23, 2016